Westside Flats — Local services in Seattle

We recently terminated our lease early due to the West Seattle Bridge shutting down. As both of us work outside of West Seattle, it made sense for us to relocate before our lease ended and traffic became a nightmare.

Though we decided to leave sooner than expected, we had an excellent time living at West Side Flats. The first few months were a bit odd because there were several different managers on site within months of each other (including Mona, there were at least 4 different people in our 9 month time there.) This created a bit of confusion, but everything was sorted out.

Randall, the maintenance guy is AMAZING. He is always friendly and goes out of his way to help residents. He also loves to pet residents' dogs and is lovely to chat with. Mona has been diligent in getting issues resolved quickly.

The one real complaint we do have is the way things are billed there. Utilities are not billed individually. You will get a bill each month added to your rent for water, sewer, trash, and common area electricity. They bill in arrears, so you may not actually see your monthly bill for 6 weeks. Since water and sewage are not metered, you are essentially paying for the entire building.

The management company uses a formula based upon occupancy to determine how much each unit pays. Obviously this isn't this isn't West Side Flats' fault, but it is unfair to residents and something they should be up front about. No matter how much we tried to conserve water, the bill just kept increasing.

In comparison, our new apartment has each unit individually metered and we only pay for what WE use. It just seems like this is a way for Avenue5 to overcharge residents and make a profit.

Additionally, security was a concern when we moved in. There aren't any security cameras in the "backyard" common area and people can use the back gate that connects to an alley. Its an easy way for someone to break in and they really should put a camera in all common spaces at multiple angles. Dog poo was a bit of an issue, but they began the PooPrints program shortly before we left and it seemed to reduce people leaving dog poo in the pet area. BUT as far as I know, they never actually fined anyone for doing it (when there was a lot left there still) and easily could set up a camera and ensure all dog poo is picked up.

All in all, we had a great experience and wish we could have stayed longer. They apartment was quite large, had LOADS of storage (with the option for additional storage in the garages), had nice in-unit laundry, ParcelPending so your boxes weren't sitting out, and had a nice dog area. If you get the chance, definitely check...

I moved in site-unseen just over a year ago when I relocated from out of state. Great location, lots of restaurants and grocery stores nearby. You can really live here without a car. We're right next to a a hub for Metro Transit so we have several buses to get downtown, and we're close to the water taxi. West Seattle is definitely a great place to live, even with the bridge down. My apartment is fine, and by Seattle standards, I feel like I get a good apartment for my investment.

All that said, I would have looked for another place if it weren't for the management team. Mona and Randall are fantastic to deal with when you need something, and they make living here worth it. For being the only maintenance person for two buildings, I've found Randall to be really responsive if I have an issue in my apartment, and he's very friendly. My dog absolutely loves him. The building is kept clean and the outside areas are good, too, thanks to Randall's work. Mona is an absolute gem. After I moved in, I didn't talk to the property manager, but Mona goes out of her way to keep the door open and interact with us. I feel like she's gotten to know any resident who wants to be social. Even with COVID, she's been accessible and friendly.

What I have appreciated most about Mona's management style is that she has been thoughtful in handling issues in light of the impact COVID, telecommuting, and everything else 2020 has thrown at us. These are tough times, and Mona is very good at finding solutions that are really thinking about the wellbeing of the building and the individual resident rather than just sticking to the strictest interpretation of the rules. She really has bent over backward to keep residents and keep us happy. She doesn't break rules or ignore problems, but she has the right touch that helps issues get resolved rather than just covered up.

If you look here to rent, make sure this is your management team. Until Mona and Randall, I didn't really understand how much better it is when you can build a relationship with your property management staff. There's a big difference between just having OK management and having management you can consider...

I am absolutely blown away by this stellar customer service at this property! I’ve lived at a couple different apartments in the past, and none of those complexes came close to how responsive and friendly the staff of Westside Flats are! Mona and Randall do an excellent job at managing this apartment complex, and reminding you every day that Westside Flats is truly the perfect place to call home.

Both Mona and Randall are extremely helpful and friendly! From the very start, when my husband and I moved in, we arrived several hours early to our move-in appointment, as we were coming from out of state; Mona was happy to accommodate our early arrival and was super supportive throughout the entire moving process! Even though we were coming from out of state, Mona helped us have one of the most stress-free and smooth move-in’s of our lives! Since then, she goes out of her way to help us, no matter how tiny the problem is. Randall, the maintenance technician, is super friendly, and quickly addresses your service requests the moment after you place them. He even helped us move a couch up four flights of stairs after the couch couldn’t fit in the elevator. Randall constantly goes above and beyond with his service, and will never stop at ‘just good enough’ when he’s fixing something in your apartment.

Lastly, The complex itself is beautiful! Our apartment is super modern, featuring brand new appliances and hardwood flooring throughout most of the unit. We’re even lucky enough to have a little balcony with a perfect view of downtown Seattle!

I would absolutely recommend anyone to move into this apartment complex, I’m sure they’ll love staying here just as much as I have! Thank you so much, Mona and Randall, for several months of amazing...